MAY 11, 2011 - DEGRAFF
The Covington Buccaneers have shown signs of being a good baseball team all season long, but have struggled at times with putting it all together in each phase of the game.

But in the second round of the sectional tournament on Wednesday, the Buccs did put it all together and the result was an impressive 9-0 victory over Riverside.

"All year long we've either struggled hitting or playing defense," said Covington coach Mitch Hirsch. "We knew that if we could put it together, we'd be pretty good. We were pretty good tonight."

Covington received a solid pitching performance from senior Jake Stewart and one of its better defensive efforts of the season in support. The Buccs also continued their hot hitting with eight timely hits in the victory.

"Jake stayed within himself on the mound and the defense had his back," Hirsch explained. "We only gave up one hit all night and that's because we played well as a team defensively, talking, knowing where to go with the ball - doing all of the basic things good teams do."

Covington allowed just four base runners all night, one on a hit and three on walks. Stewart also struck out 11 batters on the night.

"His curve ball was working pretty good," said Hirsch of Stewart. "He mixed in some fastballs and they couldn't catch up to it."

After two scoreless innings to start the game, Covington loaded the bases in the third inning on a walk by Steven Blei, a double by Kellen Woloch and Andrew DeHart being hit by a pitch.

Ben Wilson followed with a two-run single and then Stewart drove in DeHart with a sacrifice.

The game remained 3-0 until the Buccs broke open the flood gates in the top of the seventh - once again starting the inning by loading the bases.

Steven Blei singled to score Justin Williams, who was pinch running for Sheldon Rank. Woloch then singled to score Corey Haines and Brandon Flora to make the score 6-0.

Ben Wilson kept the momentum going with and RBI single to score Blei and Stewart drove in Brock Smith with another single.

The final run came on a Sheldon Rank liner that scored Wilson.

"We had eleven batters come to the plate in the seventh inning," Hirsch said. "The kids never let up."

They were also having fun, something Hirsch has been looking for in his team.

"The kids are enjoying themselves right now," said Hirsch. "They are starting to believe in themselves and having some fun."

And Hirsch hopes the fun continues next Wednesday in the sectional final against Russia at Piqua High School.

"Absolutely," he agreed. "We have Newton at our place tomorrow, South on Friday and then travel to St. Henry on Saturday to finish the game from Fifth/Third Field. We'll take it one game at a time and have some fun along the way."

Which is what it's all about for the Buccs.

SCORING BY INNINGS:
Covington ............0..0..3..0..0..0..6 - 9 - 8 - 1
Riverside .............0..0..0..0..0..0..0 - 0 - 1 - 1